How to address the child’s needs

All behaviour has a function. When adults understand why the behaviour may be occurring, they can respond by helping to meet the needs of the child or young person in effective ways.

Behaviour usually reflects a range of needs. Many strategies may be required to respond to children with concerning or harmful behaviours. It is also important to address the needs of the people who have an impact on the lives of children or young people e.g. family, carers, teachers and support workers.

Strategies for meeting the need could include:

give accurate facts and information about sexuality

teach social skills

support healthy friendships and relationships

teach about privacy and make home and other

environments private and safe

make clear rules and reinforce them with praise

or consequences

have consistency between homes, family,

school, community

supervise during times of risk

monitor behaviour and review support strategies

restrict access to previous victims or vulnerable others

and explain why

limit time spent with people who bully or who also show

concerning sexual behaviours

remove from situations where risk of harm, exploitation,

abuse or neglect is suspected

check for infections or injuries and get medical attention

if needed

provide information and support to family, carers and staff

get family counselling or therapy

referral to other services

Sexuality and relationships education encourages open and clear communication to provide a foundation for the development of healthy sexual behaviours and attitudes.

Topics for education may include:

body parts

being private

personal safety

puberty

managing periods

types of touch

relationships

safe sex

reproductive health

contraception

sexual abuse issues

sexual health checks

sexual functioning

self esteem and feelings

decision making

Taking action

Most sexual behaviours are normal and healthy and will be in the green category. Green light behaviours present opportunities to communicate with children and young people about healthy sexuality.

Orange or red light behaviours are less common. They indicate the need to pay attention, monitor, supervise, provide sexuality and personal safety education and may also require therapy, protection from harm or a legal response. All green, orange and red light behaviours require some form of action and support.

How serious is the behaviour?

When sexual behaviour raises concern or involves harm to others, the behaviour is serious.

If the answer to any of the following is yes, adults have a duty of care to take action.

The behaviour:

is against the law

is against organisational policy

is of concern to others

provides a potential risk to the child

provides a potential risk to others

interferes with the child’s relationships

is life threatening

Sexual behaviour and the law

There are many different laws relating to aspects of sexuality and sexual behaviour.

Sexual activity must be voluntary and mutually agreed by those involved.

The age of consent to sexual intercourse varies from 16 to 17 depending on where you live.

A person must be able to consent to sexual activity.

Age, intellectual and psychological ability to understand and give full permission is taken into account. This includes being intoxicated by drugs or alcohol.

Incest or sexual activity between close family members is against the law. Close family members could include defacto, step, foster and biological relatives.

Taking, sharing, selling, storing or posting sexual images of a person under the age of 18 is against the law.

Children from 10 years old can be charged for sexually abusing others. Their ability to understand their actions is taken into account when working out if they can be liable.